Rathdowney Blondes was started in 1986 by Bob and Corine Arkinstall with the purchase of one 7/8 heifer and four 3/4 cows from Aruma Stud near Oakey. The first purebred calves were born in December 1987 after an ET program on the 7/8 heifer “Aruma E01”. Another heifer was purchased from Aruma (Aruma G02) along with one from Constantia Stud in Victoria (Constantia Fedora) and Encounter Stud in SA (Encounter Alexis). The biggest purchase would be the importation from France of 2 heifers , Elise and Farine, in 1991. Their impact is still being felt in our herd, as well as many others throughout Australia.

In 2007, Rathdowney purchased 20 embryos from 5 Donor cows in France, and the first progeny are due September/October 2008. We also bought in Semen from Orion, who has sired a long list of high quality show winners, and whose semen supplies have been exhausted due to his popularity.

1974:AI’d Blonde bulls over our dairy cows as part of a supply contract
1980: sold dairy herd, started looking for Blondes
1985: Ordered Blonde semen from DPI at Wacol
1986: Purchased cattle from Aruma Stud less than a week after the ad appeared in the paper
1987: Began 1st ET Program
1988: purchased heifer from Constantia
1990: purchased heifers from Encounter, Aruma, France
1991: 2 heifers from France arrive. Blondes begin showing at major shows. A bull we bred, now owned by Banya stud wins Grand Champion Blonde bull at Toowoomba Royal, Beef 91 and then the Brisbane Ekka.
1993: HalfMine stud starts with the purchase of Quirran-Lea Lotsa Lace
1995: 1st Entered Gympie Carcase Classic
2005: Win Gympie Carcase Classic
2007: Import 20 embryos and 2 new sires from France